Circuit courts are divided over how to judge the reasonableness of force
Examining the “Moment of Threat” Doctrine: A Crucial Case for Law Enforcement
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Category: Use of Force
Suicide Threat Created Exigent Circumstances for Warrantless Entry
Court upholds warrantless entry and use of force in suicide threat case
Preparing Your Peer Support Team for Civil Unrest
A step-by-step readiness guide.
Use of Force Case Law — Trends to Look Out For
Knowledge of cases should drive both policy and training
‘Cherubic’ Wind Opening Door Did Not Allow Lawful Entry
The slippery slope of assuming implied consent
Qualified Immunity for Gunshots That Hit Innocent Passenger
In Cuevas v. City of Tulare, qualified immunity applied despite an innocent passenger being hurt.
It Takes Time to Start Force, It Takes Time to Stop Force
Force escalation and de-escalation in law enforcement encounters
Recent Polls on Policing Show Positive Trends for U.S. Law Enforcement
Public sentiment rebounding after a period of relative distrust
Constitutional Violation? Use of Force Case Law Rarely Provides Easy Answers
We expect the courts to provide guidance, but they are often frustratingly silent
Officer-Created Danger Theory Lives On
Deadly force not “unreasonable” in the face of a machete-wielding subject
The Gunslinger’s Dilemma (Bohr’s Law), Clearly Established Law and Qualified Immunity
SCOTUS hasn’t established controlling authority for qualified immunity, but “clearly established law” is somewhat clearer
If a Suspect Can Talk, Does That Mean He’s Breathing?
Factors from Graham v. Connor applied to King v. City of Rockford